Victoria’s high-tech community has raised $300,000 to help tackle the issue of local food security.

During its annual awards show June 14, investor and former chair of the Victoria Innovation, Advanced Technology and Entrepreneurship Council, Rasool Rayani, challenged the full-house audience to pledge money to the cause. They raised $200,000 on the spot.

The money was combined with $100,000 from the Victoria Foundation, which will be given to the Mustard Seed Street Church to further develop its Food Security Distribution Centre.

The centre, on Viewfield Road in Esquimalt, currently brings in about 1,815 kilograms of rescued produce each day and is part of the Food Share Network, a partnership of 50 organizations that operate food security programs in Greater Victoria.

The Mustard Seed estimates more than 35,000 people in Greater Victoria seek a reliable source of food every month.

Dan Gunn, chief executive of VIATEC, said raising that kind of money within minutes is just a small example of the local industry’s generosity.

Proceeds will go towards the next phase of development of Food Security Distribution Centre.see more

VICTORIA, BC (July 2, 2019) – On Friday June 14th, over 1,100 community members came together to celebrate the achievements made in the Greater Victoria technology sector for the annual Victoria Innovation, Advanced Technology and Entrepreneurship Council Awards at the Royal Theatre. The energy in the room was electrifying - so much so that when VIATEC Past Chair Rasool Rayani challenged the audience to raise funds to help food security in Victoria, $200,000 was pledged on the spot by a number of generous local tech companies and entrepreneurs. (See the full list below). The monies will be combined with an additional commitment of $100,000 from the Victoria Foundation for a total of $300,000.

“Tech companies locate in Victoria for many reasons including the post-secondary schools, research facilities and quality of life,” said Dan Gunn, CEO of VIATEC. “That said, most of the tech sector’s $4.06 billion in annual revenues are generated by selling our products globally. As a result, our 955 tech companies do not require the same kind of strong brand recognition locally that the other primary sectors of our economy rely on and they fly under the radar. We know that our members have always given back but, much of that giving has been quiet or anonymous. The VIATEC Foundation was created as a way to encourage, support and recognize the community support of local tech companies and the results of this impromptu campaign shows the impact they continue to have.”

“The Food Rescue Project is innovative, inspiring and demonstrates how many entities, agencies and organizations can come together for greater good. We are honoured to assist our members in supporting such a great initiative.”

The VIATEC Foundation, in partnership with the Victoria Foundation, are putting the money towards the next phase of development of Food Security Distribution Centre. The 22,000 sq. ft facility at 808 Viewfield Road in Esquimalt currently serves as a central hub for the Food Rescue Project, which recovers and redistributes fresh healthy food that currently reaches about 35,000 people every month across the capital region. Consultation and planning is underway to further leverage the Centre to support the local food economy through such things as incubation and development of food-based social enterprises, processing and storage for local food production, or opportunities for food skills training and employment.

Earlier this year, the Mustard Seed secured financing to purchase the Centre in partnership with the Victoria Foundation and a $2 million grant from the province. The Centre, which launched in 2017, is part of the Food Rescue Project, an initiative of the Food Share Network, a collaboration of more than 50 member organizations, including local non-profits, First Nations, School Districts and other organizations working towards a food secure region.

For those that would like to take up the challenge, donations can be made to the VIATEC Foundation Fund at https://victoriafoundation.bc.ca/make-a-donation/ or by sending a cheque payable to the Victoria Foundation—with the memo line of “VIATEC Foundation Fund”—to Victoria Foundation, #200 - 703 Broughton Street, Victoria BC, V8W 1E2.

The VIATEC Foundation, in partnership with the Victoria Foundation, was established by VIATEC to connect Victoria’s technology sector to the broader community. The foundation offers a mechanism for the tech sector to harness its collective charitable efforts to maximize the impact of the sector’s donations.

About VIATEC
VIATEC (Victoria Innovation, Advanced Technology and Entrepreneurship Council), started in 1989. Our mission is to serve as the one-stop hub that connects people, knowledge and resources to grow and promote the Greater Victoria technology sector (Victoria's biggest industry). We work closely with our members to offer a variety of events, programs and services. In addition, VIATEC serves as the front door of the local tech sector and as its spokesperson. To better support local innovators, we acquired our own building (Fort Tectoria) where we offer flexible and affordable office space to emerging local companies along with a gathering/event space for local entrepreneurs. www.viatec.ca, www.forttectoria.ca

Royal Roads University is looking for a consultant to map out a plan for a new post-secondary school campus on the fast-growing West Shore.

The comprehensive plan is to be ready by August. A request for proposals was issued this week and closes June 18.

Last year, the province provided $250,000 for Royal Roads to lead a study, with partners UVic, Camosun College and the Sooke School District, into a new campus in the West Shore.

A feasibility study into the concept led to $1.5 million from province for a full business case to be developed.

Concerns driving the investigation into building a new campus include the lengthy commute for West Shore students to post-secondary schools, the lower than average number of West Shore students moving on to post-secondary school and the rising demand as the population expands in that region.

The idea is to set up a new campus focused on under-graduate programs, with space for collaborative learning.

The new plan will include designing a curriculum, determining how much space will be needed, site selection and design, infrastructure needs such as parking, estimating student numbers, financial analysis and timelines. The new university could be a collaboration between Royal Roads, UVic and Camosun, Royal Roads University president Philip Steenkamp said in April.

UVic’s Kidovate entrepreneurs in Bay Centre

Participants in a new UVic entrepreneurship program for young people aged 12 to 18 will be showcasing and selling products on Saturday they have created.

The Kidovate program was created by UVic’s Gustavson School of Business. Its first market will be from 10 a.m.to 3 p.m. at The Bay Centre’s centre court.

Participants received a graphic novel workbook and access to UVic student mentors. Kidovate offers a learning guide for educators that is tied to the new B.C. curriculum.

Brock Smith, entrepreneurship area champion at UVic, said Kidovate is an opportunity for youth across the region to develop entrepreneurship and business skills. “These youth have worked hard to create valuable products and I hope customers will reward them for their efforts by coming to the Bay Centre and making purchases.”

Royal Roads blends old and new in environmental science campus

In just a few weeks, students and faculty will be filling the new $24.8-million Centre for Environmental Science and International Partnership at Royal Roads University. Classes start Sept. 4. Staff and faculty are moving in now and workers are taking care of finishing touches. The building’s official opening is Sept. 7.

This is the latest project at Royal Roads, where the old garage and stables in the Mews, once used by the Dunsmuir family, has been converted for its new role. The project covers 51,666 square feet, with its new contemporary styled south-wing addition of 18,503 square feet.

The facility includes three new state-of-the-art laboratories.

Each classroom and common area has the latest audio/visual and information technology.

“That means faster and more secure internet connectivity throughout, as well as a faster and more secure IT infrastructure in each classroom to allow students and instructors to easily share large documents and video files from any of their personal devices to in-class screens and projectors, to each other and to the cloud,” Carolyn Levesque, Royal Roads senior portfolio director, who oversees all capital projects, said in a statement.

“Each classroom will also have the IT capability to host and participate in livestream online video conferencing to interact with students in other classrooms or even other institutions, locally, nationally or internationally.”

The new Terry Power Strategic and Advanced International Studies outdoor classroom is an open-concept space next to the new development. It has been built with natural materials, including all-weather seating areas for up to 50 students, Levesque said.

On-campus undergraduate programs in fields such as environmental science, tourism, business and international student programs will be using the building, which includes open spaces where students can meet.

Several environmental features were incorporated:

• It will have lower energy and emissions output than the smaller original Mews. Royal Roads anticipates saving 1,230 gigajoules in energy and expects to reduce by 44 tonnes of total carbon emissions annually. That accounts for about three per cent of the university’s total target of cutting greenhouse gases by 33 per cent, the school said in a statement.

• “Smart glass” has been used because it adjusts its tint to block glare, ultraviolet radiation and solar overheating of spaces. It will also help reduce the numbers of birds flying into windows, the statement said.

• Motion-controlled lights turn on only when people are using a space and half of the building’s electrical outlets will also turn off when a space is unoccupied, in order to cut down on wasted electricity. And CO2 sensors ensure that mechanical ventilation is activated only when spaces are occupied.

• LED lights — more efficient than fluorescents — are used indoors and outdoors.

• Outdoor lights have shields around them and direct their beams downward to avoid sending light pollution into the night sky.

• Upgraded insulation means less heating and cooling will be needed to maintain indoor temperatures.

• Nearly 60 per cent of the total floor area is made up of the existing wood-frame structure.

• There are six electric vehicle chargers in nearby parking areas, along with bike racks, shelters and showers.

The $24.8-million cost includes construction, new equipment, high-tech infrastructure, furniture and native plant lanscaping. Funding came from the federal government, the province, philanthropist Sherman Jen and from the university.

The two-storey Mews is a federally recognized heritage building. It stands southwest of Hatley Castle on the Hatley Castle National Historic Site, which stands out near Esquimalt Lagoon.

Built in the early 1900s for industrialist James Dunsmuir who inherited his family’s coal fortune, Hatley Castle is a landmark in Colwood. It was constructed in a Tudor Revival design by architect Samuel Maclure. The Dunsmuir family lived on the property of more than 560 acres until 1937.

The property was purchased by the Department of National Defence in 1940 and it served as Royal Roads Military College. Royal Roads University was founded in 1995.

School of Communication and Culture is seeking a tech company interested in MAPC live case challengesee more

Royal Roads University seeks tech companies for MAPC live case challenge this fall

Do you have a communication challenge within your organization? Do you need fresh eyes to create innovative solutions to issues like employee engagement, internal structure, awareness, communication challenges, culture, growth, etc.?

Royal Roads University’s School of Communication and Culture is seeking a tech company interested in participating in the MAPC live case challenge this fall.

What: The School of Communication and Culture works with organizations in the Masters of Arts in Professional Communication program.

Who: Talented and experienced mid-career professionals from across Canada participate in this challenge as part of their residency. Two teams would work with you to create communication plans that address the issue(s) you give them.

Before September 20: work with faculty to determine the focus of your issue (phone call or coffee), record a 20 minute interview outlining the details of your organization and the scope of your communication issue. Provide supplementary materials (website link, strategic plans, etc.)

Between October 22 – November 7: communicate with teams via email, video, site visit (time parameters can be set by you, one point person per team contacts you)

November 9: Attend the presentations at Royal Roads in the Centre for Dialogue.

Booths will be open 1-4pm with about 350 students visiting with more than 40 industry hosts on Feb 8see more

Connect With Top Talent: Royal Roads launches fifth annual Career Development Conference

Victoria, BC – Employers can connect with Royal Roads University’s experienced and innovative students at the university’s fifth annual Career Development Conference Thursday, Feb. 8, 2018. The conference welcomes employers to join the university and its students for an interactive event where both students and employers can make new industry connections and glean business insights.

The conference features guest speakers, human resources and industry panels and student-employer networking booths. Booths will be open from 1 to 4 p.m., with about 350 students visiting with more than 40 industry booth hosts.

There is no cost to host a networking booth or attending any of the day’s sessions and activities.

Royal Roads University, a public university established in 1995, offers a progressive model of post-secondary education, delivering applied and professional programs. The university offers a blended learning experience combining online and on-campus instruction, as well as full time intensive on-campus instruction for undergraduate and graduate degrees, a doctoral degree, certificates and diplomas. It also offers progressive, professional continuing studies programs.